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U.S. says Iran took mine off tanker

49 Comments
By JON GAMBRELL

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49 Comments
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Something smells fishy in the Gulf of Oman.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Donny sure is intent on provoking conflict with Iran. He couldn't be hoping for the patriotic bump in approval all presidents get I. Times of crisis, could he?

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

How do we know it's the tanker in question or even that it's the Revolutionary Guard? It could be any ship anywhere. And with footage from the 'smoking gun' video being so grainy they must be using cameras from the 1950s or 60s.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

Is this why Sarah Sanders quit? She’s not willing to go along with this charade?

1 ( +9 / -8 )

OMG Pompeo, your pants are on fire!!

1 ( +7 / -6 )

John Bolton, our National Security Advisor, is a founding member of the neocon group, Project for a New American Century, along with Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. In Dubya's Presidency, Bolton helped concoct the fake WMD crisis in 2003 to justify going to war against Iraq, which was no threat to us.

Now, just as Bolton and Pompeo are beating the drums of war against Iran, Iran invites war against itself by attacking civilian tankers for no discernible reason, military or diplomatic. 

I'm not buying it. 

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me, John Bolton.

11 ( +18 / -7 )

The video is grainy, but the color photo clearly shows the limpet mine at the same height as the blast hole further aft.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Hervé L'Eisa

So what's the connection between the video showing two ships and the limpet mine height? With video software being so sophisticated these days any thing is possible. The video with proves nothing. Zero. If they had real evidence the footage would be sharp with damning evidence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROB0YEEblUw

0 ( +5 / -5 )

John Bolton, our National Security Advisor, is a founding member of the neocon group, Project for a New American Century, along with Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. In Dubya's Presidency, Bolton helped concoct the fake WMD crisis in 2003 to justify going to war against Iraq, which was no threat to us.

Now, just as Bolton and Pompeo are beating the drums of war against Iran, Iran invites war against itself by attacking civilian tankers for no discernible reason, military or diplomatic. 

I'm not buying it. 

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me, John Bolton.

This is 100% it.

The neocons are back and they want the Iraq War 2. They do Bibi's bidding and use the US military, and American lives, as their cannon fodder in the Middle East.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

The current occupant of the White House has as much credibility as George W (Weapons of Mass Deception) Bush.

Anything coming out of the current administration (Bolton/Pompeo) has to be taken with a mountain of salt.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Love how including the official line about the American ship 'racing to assist', but failing to mention that the tanker crews were rescued by the Iranians manages to not be an actual lie, but definitely is misleading.

After all, if you knew that the Iranian boats were rescuing the tanker crews, you might start counting how many people were on the boat in the video, figure out that odds are high that half of them are the crew of the tanker, and not the sort of people who would be quiet about taking an explosive device on board with them, having a bomb loose amongst their feet, or fail to mention seeing what they saw.

But, hey, it's not like the 'Free press' would fail to ask questions, or publish available evidence, that contradicts the official line of the war mongers, is it (Well, unless you count the war with Iran, the war with Iraq, the war on Syria...)

1 ( +6 / -5 )

The grainy video appears to be from a loitering aircraft of some sort. Try not having grainy video shot at 4am from 10+ miles away. If they didn't want to be seen, they shouldn't have done it with a nearly full moon.

Do you think Japan and Norway planted the bombs? The boat seen along side is used by Iran. What other boat of that style would show up next to a tanker with 12+ guys on it? Was it Russia? China? Venezuela? Yemen?

Sometimes, if it walks and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Sometimes not.

The footage was released for Iran to see they are being watched, that they will be caught and shown internationally doing bad things.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

First it was Iranian mines, then torpedos, then mines again and now possibly UFÓ's. And we are going to war on this evidence?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

The boat seen along side is used by Iran. What other boat of that style would show up next to a tanker with 12+ guys on it?

An IDF boat with 12+ IDF commandoes on it? It's pretty easy to rig one up. Or a Saudi boat with 12+ Saudi guys on it? I'm leaning towards the former, they're pretty good at this kind of thing. They have good and moral reasons to do this as well! Remember Netanyahu's speech at the UN when he held up a cartoon picture of Iran's nuke program? That was in 2012 when he claimed Iran was in the final stage of enriching enough uranium for their first bomb. So how many bombs does Iran have now? Probably a lot so it's time to act. Iran is a threat to world peace.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

is this why Sarah Sanders quit? She’s not willing to go along with this charade?

theres only so many alterate facts and lies you can tell for your boss until you look in the mirror and ask yourself, is this the image I want my kids to portray of me when theyre old enough to understand what it takes to hold onto power.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

What navy takes limpet mines off ships after planting them a short while before?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

kurisupisu

What navy takes limpet mines off ships after planting them a short while before?

One that doesn't want to leave evidence of their handiwork?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Wow, this is a whole lot of conspiracy theorists in one place. Suddenly Iran is trustworthy... what a joke.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

RichardPearce - Love how including the official line about the American ship 'racing to assist', but failing to mention that the tanker crews were rescued by the Iranians manages to not be an actual lie, but definitely is misleading.

The original Reuters story was very misleading.

The 21 member crew of the Front Altair were rescued from their lifeboat by the Dutch vessel Coastal Ace. The 21 sailors were then transferred to the USS Bainbridge.

The 23 sailors from the Kokuka Courageous were rescued by another vessel. Iranians then demanded that those sailors be turned over to them. Where they remain. And may remain for a long time.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Maybe, just maybe, it's important that the President of the United States have some kind of credibility when it comes to things like this. Y'know. War.

I do know this: I will not follow that man into battle.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

The original Reuters story was very misleading.

Yes, but don't let the truth get in tge way of a good conspiracy ;-).

This story and the comments from the conspiracy theorists is a good reason to back the NeoCons when they normally shouldn't be trusted. Not doing so means letting conpiracists agenda proliferate.

Just as the NeoCons have form, so does Iran. Iran has deployed mines before, they've attacked tankers many times.

Obama, against advice of his own people (but under immense pressure from the EU) signed up into a deal that would guarantee chaos in the region. As Obama's advisors predicted, as soon as the sanctions ended on Iran, and cash started flowing, it went straight to Hezbolla, Hamas, Houtis, even IS when it suits them, and as predicted, it's not easy or quick to reimpose the sanctions, and the EU would try circumvent it also as predicted.

I am against conflict of any kind, and I particularly felt uneasy about the last Gulf war, but I can't see how this current situation can go on like this. Lift sanctions and Iran funnel money to our foes (chaos), impose sanctions and Iran attack our friends directly or by their proxy. Obama never should have allowed Iran to regain its strength, biggest mistake of his presidency.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Wow, this is a whole lot of conspiracy theorists in one place. Suddenly Iran is trustworthy... what a joke.

+1, but the sad thing is it was all predicted before Obama signed the deal. I don't like Trump on any front, but I do admire the fact he can recognise a bad deal when it's a bad deal.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Talk about fake news...warmongers really want this war....

I hope this doesn't happen, but you're going to find that if the Saudis decide to go alone (ie ignore US & Western advice) and response by force or stop shipment of oil through the Gulf, people every where are going to march on their parliament and demand WAR.

The warmongers as you call them, don't have to do anything.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Maybe, just maybe, it's important that the President of the United States have some kind of credibility when it comes to things like this. Y'know. War.

I trust him more than I trust anything coming out of the mouths of Iranian officials.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Black Sabbath - I do know this: I will not follow that man into battle.

He'll probably feel more confident, and sleep better, knowing that.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Besides holding one tanker crew hostage, the Revolutionary Guard patrol boats are now refusing to allow tugs to tow the tanker Front Altair to port. The fun never stops when you're a revolutionary guard.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

extanker: I trust him more than I trust anything coming out of the mouths of Iranian officials.

I agree. It just sucks we have to choose a proven scammer and known liar as the alternative.

My guess is The Revolutionary Guard is behind this. As to what end, I really have no clue. Iran recently has become more hostile, especially with the threat to begin enrichment again, something Obama had successfully taken off the table and Trump practically dared them to resurrect.

What makes this whole thing murkier is that the president of the Japanese company that owns the tanker has rejected the US position. But he's not a security expert.

What I'm hoping is that the moderate wing in Iran still has some power. The hardliners got a windfall when Trump was elected, then it doubled with Bolton. It's probably difficult for the average Iranian to have any trust in Trump at all, and it's those people who choose their President.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I do admire the fact he can recognise a bad deal when it's a bad deal.

Then why did the other six countries sign in, when their goal was a non-nuclear Iran? Was there some conspiracy between them against America?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Then why did the other six countries sign in, when their goal was a non-nuclear Iran? Was there some conspiracy between them against America?

Well at the time, the US leadership saying it was a good idea probably had a great deal to do with it.

Just because Trump thinks something is a bad idea, doesn't mean it's not a bad idea and in this case, the Iran deal was full of problems and never should have been signed in its current state in the first place.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Well at the time, the US leadership saying it was a good idea probably had a great deal to do with it.

Seriously? Getting six nations to sign an agreement simply because the US said it's a good idea?

Pure and utter American delusion.

Just because Trump thinks something is a bad idea, doesn't mean it's not a bad idea and in this case, the Iran deal was full of problems and never should have been signed in its current state in the first place.

And yet, we're still not left with any (realistic) reason why six other nations would sign an agreement that went against the very interests they had in signing the agreement.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Just because Trump thinks something is a bad idea, doesn't mean it's not a bad idea

I agree with Trump when Trump has done something that I agree with. There have been a few things, and I have no problem calling them out.

But as I've asked every time people start talking about how the Iran deal was bad, why would these other nations sign the agreement? And I've never gotten a (realistic) answer.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Well at the time, the US leadership saying it was a good idea probably had a great deal to do with it.

Seriously? Getting six nations to sign an agreement simply because the US said it's a good idea?

Pure and utter American delusion.

Right. Because our allies haven't followed the US into anything else recently like wars or anything...

Come on man, it's not 'American delusion', I could care less about that. You can't deny that the US is the 'big kid on the block' and when that kid does something and says it's cool, the rest of the gang tend to follow suit.

Like you said, they wanted a nuclear free Iran. The US is pushing a plan that looks like it will lead to that. Maybe it's not perfect, but the country you trust most to lead the way says it's good. It would make sense to go with it.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

But as I've asked every time people start talking about how the Iran deal was bad, why would these other nations sign the agreement? And I've never gotten a (realistic) answer.

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/05/iran-nuclear-deal-flawed/559595/

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I could care less about that.

Dammit I can't believe I screwed that up. Couldn't care less. COULDN'T. ;-)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@SuperLib

My guess is The Revolutionary Guard is behind this

Interesting theory. So, they choose the moment when the prime minister of Japan visited Iran, mined for that occasion a Japanese-owned tanker in order to spoil completely the relations with a more or less friendly G7 nation? And to give the U.S. a perfect excuse for a military action while hawks in Washington are just looking for that exsuse?

Do you really think Iranians aro so stupid?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Everyone knows this is US propaganda, just as Iraq and WMG, but the US will still get the support of the Western Wimps because they are totally intimidated by Washington, totally under Washington's hell. It is up to the people to put an end to this warmongering, because their government wont defy the US.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Much more logical explanation:

https://www.globalresearch.ca/convenient-tanker-attacks-as-us-seeks-war-with-iran/5680510

0 ( +2 / -2 )

rlperez@hotmail.com.au - Everyone knows this is US propaganda,

No, "everyone" does not know, or believe, what you know.

When do you think the Iranians will release the boat's crew that are still being detained in Iran?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Asakaze - Do you really think Iranians aro so stupid?

The short answer would be yes.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Talk about stellar timing..What are the odds that Centcom would have their cameras pointed at a random tanker just when the smoking gun is taken away..Give that camera man a medal..

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It wasn't a "random tanker". It was one of two tankers which had recently been attacked, and then abandoned by it's crew. Seems like a good spot to set up a surveillance camera. Just in case the bombers came back to the scene of their crime.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@arrestpaul

The short answer would be yes

Underestimating of your enemy? "Big mistake", as Schwarzenegger used to say in his movies lol

But the people around the world are not stupid. They did not believe in Colin Powell's vial, they do not believe now in this "Iranian attack".

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"They" don't? Seriously? Have you talked to the people around the world? There certainly seems to be plenty of disagreement about who, and what, to believe. The conversation continues. More importantly, the investigation continues.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

More importantly, the investigation continues

LOL!!!! You said it yourself! Normal countries present proof first and then make claims. Only Bolton and Pompeo make claims first and only after that frantically looking for proof and "continue investigation".

Who is stupid then?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

That video is truly "compelling", I'm looking forward to the rest of the video showing it heading back to port.

Try not having grainy video shot at 4am from 10+ miles away. If they didn't want to be seen, they shouldn't have done it with a nearly full moon.

What are you talking about? Above, you can see an image of the ship taken on a bright sunny day, with the alleged mine still attached!

But the people around the world are not stupid. They did not believe in Colin Powell's vial, they do not believe now in this "Iranian attack".

Indeed, I watched the video being reported on CNN's youtube channel. It has a roughly 4:1 thumbs-down : thumbs-up ratio; and the comments are almost entirely "skeptical".

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Asakaze - LOL!!!! You said it yourself! Normal countries present proof first and then make claims. Only Bolton and Pompeo make claims first and only after that frantically looking for proof and "continue investigation".

Who is stupid then?

That would be Iran. Why did Iran claim to have rescued 44 crew members when they knew it would eventually become known that Iran hadn't rescued any of the crew members?

Iran said they would disrupt traffic thru the strait, and since then, six vessels have been attacked. Iranians were then videoed removing a suspicious package from the side of one of the attacked vessels. The situation was determined to be so dangerous that the crew had abandoned the vessel, but "someone" seems to have known exactly where the bomb was, how to disable it, and was able to do so in the middle of the night.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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